Kenya team won their first match against Cape Verde at Pool U Men's African qualifier

Nairobi, Kenya, February 6, 2014 – The men’s
volleyball teams of Kenya and Botswana started their campaign with victories in
Pool U of the African qualifying tournament for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World
Championship Poland 2014, clinching wins against Cape Verde and Zambia
respectively.

Africa has begun the process to select the three teams that will represent the
continent at the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championships Poland 2014 with the
first qualification tournament beginning in Nairobi on Wednesday. Kenya and
Botswana won their respective opening matches on the first day of the qualifiers
played at the Moi International Sports Center.

Kenya defeated newcomers Cape Verde 3-0 (25-14, 25-17,
25-14) in their first match of Pool U at the Safaricom Indoor Arena. In the
first match of the day, Botswana defeated Zambia in straight sets 3-0 (25-19,
25-12, 25-11) beginning the tournament in the manner in which they intend to
finish.

The winners of the five-nation tournament will earn
one of the three tickets reserved for Africa in the World Championships to be
played in Poland from August 30 to September 21, 2014.

Kenya v Cape Verde 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-14)

The Kenyan team, playing before a raucous crowd
conceded the first point of the match when a determined Cape Verde side took a 1-0
lead. Kenya’s experienced attacker Bernard Musumba hit back with a rocket
attack to bring the scores to 1-1. Cape Verde tried to come back through the
attacks of Helio Sanchez, Lopez Americo and Reis Valdir but their attempts at
the net hardly penetrated the defense of Kenyan team which played well to take
an 8-3 advantage at the first technical time out. The hosts attacked from all
positions to take the set 25-14.

The second set was closely contested after Cape Verde
gained the first point to take 1-0 lead. Maiyo’s attack as well as double
blocks by Wafula and Mokua helped bring the scores to 3-2 before the hosts raced ahead
to take a narrow 8-6 advantage. The combination of Makiso, Rono, Musumba and
Maiyo at the net and setter Elisha Aliwa brought the set to a spectacular 25-17
end.

Cape Verde were outstanding at the beginning of the
third set when they raced to take an 8-6 lead at the first technical time out.
But the team could not withstand the force of the hard hitting hosts who went
ahead to take a 6-11 lead before claiming the set 25-14.

Kenyan coach Gideon Chenje said, "It was
important for us to win the opening match because the victory has given us more
strength and raised the confidence level among my players. We made few mistakes
like net serves but we'll correct what we didn't do well before our next match
against Egypt." Host captain Maiyo said, "We're happy to win the
first match because we'll go into the next fixture (against Egypt) a highly
motivated side."

Botswana v Zambia 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-11)

Botswana defeated Zambia in straight sets 3-0 (25-19,
25-12, 25-11). The match started on an equal footing with both teams keeping
the scores close in the opening minutes of the first set. But Botswana had the upper
hand at both official technical time outs, leading 8-4 and 16-12. Zambia
tried to close the gap bringing the scores to 17-15 but Botswana maintained the
lead to claim the first set 25-19.

Zambia’s performance dropped as the match progressed
and Botswana used the chance to score some quick points to win the second set
25-17.

Zambian coach Peter Kombaniya said, "I think the
facility intimidated my players. We've played many friendly matches against
Botswana and I expected them to do well. The absence of my two players (Chilolo
Bbalo and Paul Mwale) who remained home due to academic engagements may have
affected the team. I have to fight to win the next matches and maintain a place
in the qualifiers."

The winning coach Manuel Torres said, "This is
the first time we're playing in such big tournament. We're happy that we won
our first match. Our reception was not perfect and we hope to improve as we go
into the next match." Botswana captain Shadrack Kapeko said that winning
the first match was very good because the victory would motivate the players as
the move on to play Cape Verde. "Cape Verde is no easy team and I hope my
colleagues would put in more efforts to win the match," he said.